Cory McKay (March 2, 1973), better known by his stage name Cormega often ab… Read Full Bio ↴Cory McKay (March 2, 1973), better known by his stage name Cormega often abbreviated to Mega, is an American rapper from Queens, New York. Cormega’s streetwise poetics and perseverance has made him one of the most respected East Coast lyricists.

Cormega was raised in Long Island City, Queens, forming childhood friendships with future rappers such as Nas, AZ, Nature, and Capone-N-Noreaga.

1980s
He was featured on Hot Day's "Going Straight Up" from his album "It's My Turn". He was also featured on Blaq Poet & DJ Hot Day's track "Set It Off" from their album "Without Warning" in 1991.

1990s
Cormega was sentenced to 5–15 years in prison for armed robbery in 1991. Despite his incarceration, Cormega gained some attention following a shout-out from Nas on his song "One Love", from the critically acclaimed Illmatic album.

Cormega was released from prison on appeal after serving almost 4 years in New York's Mid-State Correctional Facility. Following his release in 1995, Cormega became determined to pursue rapping. Nas included him on a song entitled "Affirmative Action" for his second album It Was Written. The song also featured AZ and Foxy Brown, and became The Firm's first appearance. Based on his performance, he was signed to Def Jam and recorded an album called The Testament. Based on the buzz from "Affirmative Action," Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. Dre and Trackmasters joined to produce The Firm. Cormega was replaced with another artist, Nature, because either he would not sign a contract with Stoute or Stoute felt Nature was a better rapper. This led to an alleged altercation between Cormega and Nature. Cormega's dispute with Stoute also ended his friendship with Nas. Following the end of his membership in The Firm, Alex Trojano contributed in producing his album The Testament. Meanwhile, following a falling-out over creative differences with his manager Chris Lighty and Def-Jam imprint Violator Records, his debut album The Testament was indefinitely shelved. During the recording for The Testament Cormega responded to Nas' "One Love" in the form of a letter also entitled "One Love".

2000s
In 2000, he was released from his contract and he started his own record company, Legal Hustle Records. Cormega vented his disappointment with Nas and The Firm in a mixtape song titled "Never Personal".This song was never directly pointed to Nas, but the media made it look like that. In 2001, he released his new debut album, The Realness, which was acclaimed by critics. Many of the songs share a theme of betrayal. Nas responded to Cormega on his song "Destroy and Rebuild" from his album Stillmatic. Cormega retaliated with more mixtape tracks, "A Slick Response" and "Realmatic". Nas revisited the Cormega beef in his song "The Cross" on the album God's Son. In reference to Cormega, Nas rapped "What I've discovered is my brother's tryin to be/The next me, yeah I support him but he's blinded I see/ Jealousy he love me to death and I'm buggin I love him for life/ We both still mournin on our mother's life" (referencing the fact that Cormega's mother was murdered when he was four).

Cormega's follow-up album, The True Meaning won the Source Magazine's prestigious Underground Album of the Year Award. In 2004, he followed up with Legal Hustle (a compilation album showcasing his label's artists) and other talented hip-hop lyricists such as Ghostface Killah, Large Professor, AZ, Kurupt, Jayo Felony, and several others. This album is considered by some as more of a project than an actual solo album; nonetheless it was well received. In 2005, he was able to release The Testament on his own label, which saw good reviews and sales and featured the original banned version of "Dead Man Walking" as a hidden track.

In early September 2005, Cormega posted a statement on his website that he and Nas had spoken and ended their feud. Cormega explained that their conversation had come about due to the death of Cormega's grandmother. Both rappers have stated the possibility of a collaboration. On December 22, 2006 at the Nokia Theatre Times Square, Cormega appeared on stage at a Nas concert and went on to perform with Nas (and Foxy Brown as well), further evidence that their feud is over.

The feud was settled in Cormega's home in early December 2005, when Cormega and Nas realized that it was destructive for each of them. It is not known who was responsible for their meeting but both artists are now working alone. In the mid-2000s Cormega helped produce a few albums and was featured on several songs with The Jacka and the Mob Figaz.

An album collaboration with Lakey The Kid entitled My Brother's Keeper was released independently on August 22, 2006. On November 20, 2007, Cormega finally released his DVD in-the-making Who am I?. The DVD took over four years of filming of Cormega in all aspects of his life and what others thought of Cormega, unedited. The DVD was released as a soundtrack plus DVD. Cormega intended to release an album which was to be entitled Urban Legend before T.I.'s album of the same name was released (Cormega mentions this on the Who Am I DVD, dated circa 2003); the new title is Born and Raised. The album was released October 20, 2009. The first single is called "Journey."

2010s
Cormega has stated his desire to work with a variety of artists including Scarface, Lauryn Hill, Slick Rick, as well as past collaborators M.O.P., Mobb Deep, and tha Dogg Pound.
Cormega's Album "Raw Forever" was released on 2011.

His latest work is the Album Mega Philosophy. It was produced by Large Professor and released on July 22, 2014.

On Everything
Cormega Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uh, I try to show love yet hate
It's what’s given in return, snakes
Don't stand for nothin' they ain’t
Built the same, I try to relate
Then I remember the accursed
Serpent who slithers has
Wicked ways in every page of scripture
When mentioned

Pay attention to whispers and loud talkers
Are in no position to listen
I try to warn 'em
My darkest thoughts conform to
My enlightened conscience
Align my chakra with the
Higher Power I acknowledge
And pray they never find the Assata
The lies ain't addin' up so
They divide and conquer
To stop as I aspire to design
Intricate lines listeners vibe to
Follow your dream, acknowledge self-esteem
It's inside you
Gotta want it more than anyone
That would deny you

I give it how I live it on everything I try
I give it how I live it on everything I try
I give it how I live it on everything I try

I try to see the good in people
If I see nothin'
My view's obstructed or you're evil
I’m more cerebral, less impulsive
Thoughts are deeper
The abyss of contemplation, lost thinkers
Make wiser decisions, influence schemers
Are so intrigued by greed
They ignored freedom
Justice is blind, the judge oversees you
Through presumptuous eyes before he hangs you
I relinquish impatient ways for calm reason
Meanin’ I stay cool even on warm beaches
Good vibes only even if love changes
Keep your dignity, bad energy supports anger
Causes loss, anguish, and court cases
Short tempers are often before long faces
Learn rules to the game before playin'
Know your hitters and pitchers
Cover all bases

I give it how I live it on everything I try
I give it how I live it on everything I try

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Cormega's song "On Everything" explore themes of love, hate, perception, and personal growth. The opening lines reflect the struggle to show love and receive hate in return. The reference to snakes implies deceit and betrayal from those who are not genuine or trustworthy. The singer acknowledges that he tries to relate to people, but is reminded of the serpent in scripture, symbolizing cunning and wickedness. This serves as a cautionary message, urging listeners to pay attention to whispers and not be swayed by loud talkers who are incapable of truly listening.

The lyrics also touch upon the importance of self-reflection and aligning oneself with a higher power or enlightened conscience. The mention of Assata, likely referring to Assata Shakur, a prominent civil rights activist, suggests the need to uncover and challenge lies and deceit in society. The line "The lies ain't addin' up so, they divide and conquer" highlights the destructive nature of division and manipulation. The singer aspires to create intricate lines that listeners can connect with, encouraging them to follow their dreams and embrace self-esteem. The final lines emphasize the necessity of perseverance and determination in the face of obstacles and those who may try to deny one's ambitions.

Overall, "On Everything" calls for introspection, resilience, and a refusal to be swayed by negativity or deception. It promotes the importance of staying true to oneself, embracing personal growth, and seeking a higher purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

Uh, I try to show love yet hate
Although I strive to express love, I often receive hate in return

It's what’s given in return, snakes
Snakes, those who deceive and betray, respond with hatred as well

Don't stand for nothin' they ain’t
They have no principles or values that they firmly believe in

Built the same, I try to relate
Since they lack integrity, it's difficult for me to connect with them

Then I remember the accursed
But then I am reminded of the cursed ones

Serpent who slithers has wicked ways in every page of scripture
These serpents, symbolizing deceitful individuals, possess evil intentions and can be found in various religious texts

When mentioned, pay attention to whispers
When their presence is acknowledged, it's crucial to be attentive to the quiet murmurs of warning

And loud talkers are in no position to listen
Those who speak loudly and boastfully are incapable of truly hearing and understanding

I try to warn 'em
I make an effort to caution them

My darkest thoughts conform to my enlightened conscience
My innermost negative ideas align with my enlightened understanding of right and wrong

Align my chakra with the higher power I acknowledge
I seek to harmonize my spiritual energy with the divine entity I believe in

And pray they never find the Assata
And hope they never discover the truth and wisdom represented by Assata, a symbol of resistance and liberation

The lies ain't addin' up so they divide and conquer
As the lies and deceit become more evident, the deceivers resort to dividing and subjugating others

To stop as I aspire to design intricate lines listeners vibe to
In an attempt to hinder my progress, as I strive to create complex and captivating lyrics that resonate with listeners

Follow your dream, acknowledge self-esteem, it's inside you
Pursue your aspirations and recognize your self-worth, as it lies within you

Gotta want it more than anyone that would deny you
You must possess a stronger desire for success than anyone who tries to hinder your journey

I try to see the good in people
I make an effort to perceive the positive qualities in individuals

If I see nothin', my view's obstructed or you're evil
If I fail to find any goodness, it's either due to my limited perspective or because you possess malevolent intentions

I’m more cerebral, less impulsive
I prioritize thinking and reasoning over acting on immediate impulses

Thoughts are deeper, the abyss of contemplation, lost thinkers
My thoughts delve into profound depths, exploring the abyss of contemplation that often eludes those who lack deep thinking

Make wiser decisions, influence schemers
I make more intelligent choices, which influences those who plot and scheme

Are so intrigued by greed, they ignored freedom
Their excessive desire for wealth and power blinds them to the notion of true freedom

Justice is blind, the judge oversees you
The concept of justice is impartial, but the judge still exercises authority over you

Through presumptuous eyes before he hangs you
While passing judgment, the judge sees you through biased and presumptuous eyes before imposing a severe punishment

I relinquish impatient ways for calm reason
I let go of impatience and embrace a more rational and composed approach

Meanin’ I stay cool even on warm beaches
It means I maintain a composed demeanor, even in the most enjoyable and relaxing situations

Good vibes only, even if love changes
I only surround myself with positive energy, even if love and relationships undergo transformations

Keep your dignity, bad energy supports anger
Preserve your self-respect, as negative energy fuels anger

Causes loss, anguish, and court cases
It leads to defeat, suffering, and legal disputes

Short tempers are often before long faces
People with quick tempers often end up with sad expressions and regret

Learn rules to the game before playin'
Before engaging, it is essential to understand and familiarize oneself with the rules of the game

Know your hitters and pitchers, cover all bases
Be aware of both your allies and opponents, and ensure you are well-prepared in all aspects of the game

I give it how I live it on everything I try
In everything I attempt, I wholeheartedly and authentically give my best effort

I try to show love yet hate
Although I strive to express love, I often receive hate in return